1985

Ms. Duckworth's story is incredible. She was born in Thailand and grew up in Southeast Asia with her brother Tom, her American father, and her Thai mother. Their expatriate life ended in 1985, when her father lost his job and they returned to the United States. There, she said, "We were able to rebuild our lives and achieve the American dream."

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1oUQSOk

1999

In March of 1999, William C. Rives -- then a faculty member at Singapore American School -- purchased what he thought was a beautiful and outstanding painting at an auction in Singapore. The painting was by Alix Aymé, and was of a tranquil river landscape in Luang Prabang, Laos (Lot 42 in the September 19th Asian Works of Art auction). Rendered with sensitive brush strokes and an exquisite color palette, the painting depicts a woman dressed in pink, standing on a bridge overlooking the Nam Khan river, where boats skim across the surface of the water which in turn reflects the mountains and sky above.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1L0M3N2

2014

​​Dylan Palladino stood on Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world, in the summer of 2014, determined to get to the top. He had already been climbing for five full days, and still had seven more hours to go before he reached the summit. The final push wouldn't be easy. The weather was so cold that ice blew in the 14-year old's face and his eyelids felt as if they were going to freeze shut. At such a high altitude, it was also hard to breathe.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1LRzsXv

2015

You wouldn't know the school's age by looking at its latest incarnation, a sprawling 36-acre campus in Woodlands bedecked with solar panels and technology-equipped classrooms. But there are clues to the school's history, which began in a seven-bedroom house on Rochalie Drive, tucked away in an obscure library office–clues that archivist Ms. Beth Bayley recently brought to light.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1T5igpd

2012

When Mr. Mike Rogers, a Singapore American School alumnus ('00) and co-founder of Persistent Productions, was hired to make a film for the school, he expressed interest in working with a student. Mr. Alex Fortmann's name was automatically tossed into the hat.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1LRzwq7

2010

"My grip on Sophia Datta's hand got a little tighter and hers on Maddy Zemans. Anxious energy radiated off all of us. Would our group be called? As I heard the Announcer say, 'In second place, from Singapore American School, Callie Elms, Mehek Jain, Jada Li, and Madeleine Park. The title of their project: Adding Pages to Sir Nicholas Winton's Scrapbook. Our whole section went crazy. I clapped for them with glee but my heart sank a little. Of course I was happy for them, but did that mean we didn't win? Could they call Singapore American School twice?"

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1oKU7qW

1980

By the start of the 1980s, both Singapore and SAS had evolved through several phases; each had had considerable success, and each had taken some missteps. In this decade, an economic downturn and recovery opened up a new chapter in Singapore's economic development, while the school realized it could weather a significant decline in enrollment and still feel confident of a bright future.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1YxT4pd

All Are Welcome to March Music Concerts

See our talented middle school and high school student musicians in concert! Free admission for all. Middle and high school bands' Music from Stage and Screen concert: March 15, 2016, 5:00 p.m., SAS auditorium. Middle and high school choir solo and ensemble festival recital: March 16, 2016, 3:15 p.m., drama theater. Middle school strings concert: March 17, 2016, 5:00 p.m. in the SAS auditorium.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1UtcOvw

Urgent Re-Enrollment Notice

Students who are not re-enrolled by March 1 risk losing their seats for next year and will be required to pay an increased registration fee of $3,000. Please refer questions to reenroll@sas.edu.sg or call 6360 6041.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1oRF2o9

Walk for Water SAS

Over the past three years, Walk for Water SAS has raised over $45,000 for 250 wells in rural Cambodia with 100 percent of the funds going to Tabitha, a non-profit closely affiliated with the school. This event started small, including just three students and their families, but last year participants from all branches of the schools joined together to have over 100 participants walking for water. The concept is simple; participants start at SAS and walk the 28 kilometers down to Sentosa, yet impacts are incredible. This year the walk will take place on Saturday, March 5. If you're interested, please read more to find out how Walk for Water got started, how to sign up, our entrance fees, and other volunteer options.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1LOIS60

3 Ways To Inspire Love In Your Life

A strong, healthy relationship can be one of the best supports in your life. Good relationships improve all aspects of your life, strengthening your health, your mind, and your connections with others. Here are 3 ways to keep love in your life.

Create Momentum
We can expand love in our life through the power of momentum, taking small steps that build our energy and enthusiasm.  Once we set it in motion, momentum can be an amazing and abundant force for change in our life. How do we get the momentum we need for change that lasts, that inspires and that infuses every day with purpose? We begin today.
Things don’t just happen all at once, they happen gradually. And they progress at an increasing rate as we continue to take steps in the direction of our goals and dreams. We build momentum, and that momentum ultimately takes on a life of its own. It is easier to move if you are already in motion than if you are standing still. Even if you discover that you’re going in the wrong direction, it’s easier to shift course and redirect your flow of energy than to start from scratch.  Also remember that it doesn’t matter where you start; all that matters is that you start. Source: Chopra

Exertion
The Buddhist view of exertion provides a few clues. Rather than implying drudgery, exertion is synonymous with joy. It’s not about working hard to make problems go away or trying your very best to make an effort at all times. It is so much simpler than that. Here, exertion is the noble act of taking an interest. When you get along, you take an interest in that. When you don’t, you take an interest in that, too. You take an interest when you are able to connect with your beloved openly, gracefully, and easily, and also when you connect to them with grumpiness, stupidity, and a sense of entitlement. Taking an interest is not about reductive analysis or figuring out what is going on so you can dispatch it. It is a way of opening to your own experience—and to your beloved—with tenderness and honesty. It is the act of continuously disposing of your agenda to instead live your experience fully, which gives rise to vitality, energy, and joy. Source: LionsRoar

Attachment
Adult intimate relationships can be understood through attachment theory, which has been researched and validated in a number of research studies over the last few decades. John Bowlby, an English psychiatrist, observed as early as 1958 that human beings are biologically wired to seek and maintain a few intimate relationships. He asserted that our need to connect begins at birth and continues throughout life, and as adults, we continue to need a special someone who will be emotionally accessible and responsive to us. Most importantly, attachment theory helps us understand how to create a secure relationship, how a love relationship can become distressed, and what interventions can help a troubled partnership. Source: AAMFT

Take these tips in order to experience a strong relationship. For more tips and advice call us.

Contact:
Gina Vanderham Psychotherapy Practice
470 Granville St #830
Vancouver, BC V6C 1V4
(604) 733-7428

The post 3 Ways To Inspire Love In Your Life appeared first on Gina Vanderham.

from Gina Vanderham » Articles http://ift.tt/1VJHFm9

New Gear from the Cottages 2016

Remember your roots, they say. Our roots are in ultralight backpacking. We have spread the gospel about ultralight backpacking since a long time, have interviewed cottage manufacturers and used a lot of ultralight kit on our hikes and treks. And even when I nowadays am attending the big outdoor trade fairs like ISPO and OutDoor, it’s the new gear from the cottages that I am most excited about. And so Benjamin and me again set out to ask Cottage Manufacturers about the new gear they have been developing, prototyping and testing in the last months and are now ready to release to you. So here we are, and we wish you a lot of fun checking out the New Gear from the Cottages 2016!

Disclaimer: The information in this article are directly from the cottages. I haven’t seen nor tested this equipment, it rather is a showcase of all the new gear the cottages have been developing over the last months and year. I’m not paid for it, if you like it buy me a coffee or two.

You have a cottage and should be on this list with your new gear? Email me and I’ll add you!

Tschum

Tschum is the name of the traditional housings of some Siberian natives, similar to the Lávvu and the Kota, and the name of Germany’s newest cottage. Born from the owners wish for a small two person fire tent, that is light enough to compete with modern trekking tents, he came up with the Tschum 2p. After one year of prototyping and testing, the production started in January 2016. Their tents are completely handmade in Germany. They have a transparent cost structure, and share their designs on their website.

As usual in cottages, every single tent is manufactured one at a time to the customers needs and order. After a final quality control the Tschum is labeled and signed by its creator, so it is possible for you to speak to exactly the person who built your entire tent. You know that means you will have to wait for them doing the job, which normally takes them about four weeks. The „Tschums“ are highly customizable, with many options and materials available - Feel free to ask them for more infos.

We also offer different firebowls and stoves that match the Tschum. And currently they are working on a 4P version and are experimenting with ultralight materials.

LAUFBURSCHE Gear

I’m sad that I need to share these news about LAUFBURSCHE with you, but Mateusz was diagnosed with cancer and now will go through the difficult and hard process of healing. If you’re pondering about how you could help him in this difficult time please keep an eye on his website and this thread on the Ultraleicht Forum. Backpacks will obviously not be made & sold for the time being, but you could still purchase any of the other ultralight equipment he sells.

Revelate Designs

Revelate Designs News - coming soon!

And btw, if you love Revelate Designs - they are hiring.

Mountain Laurel Designs

Mountain Laurel Designs has some big things coming in 2016. Mountain Laurel Designs’ new 2016 Pro SilNyon is in stock and shipping. It is 30% stronger, 15% lighter and has 3X the waterproofness vs older versions. The WP is well above 5,000mm and this new coating will dramatically increase overall performance, durability and longevity of our shelters in the harshest conditions.

MLD’s entire pack line is now available in a Cuben Fiber/ Dyneema Composite Fabric option. These packs are lighter weight and are fully taped for waterproofness.

The FKT (Fastest Known Time) gear line is growing and includes a Pack, Quilt, Cuben eVENT Bivy and Shelter. Designed for speed hikes and special Outdoor Missions this equipment is SUL. The Quilt and Bivy are already out and the FKT Bivy won an Award from the TGO magazine. It’s the lightest full-feature waterproof Bivy Sack available. It uses a Dyneema Non-Woven (Cuben Fiber) eVENT top and a Dyneema NonWoven Bottom.

The Quilt is similar to the MLD Spirit Quilt and has 2X the insulation on the lower part for fast moving hikers and runners who pack less lower body daytime insulation but need that at night. And the pack will be similar in size and design to the Burn with new features for fast moving adventures, with a late February Release. The shelter on the other hand is a secret still and should be out in late February or March.

The 2016 SuperMid comes in the new SilNylon with extra guy line points in case you want to take it out in galeforce winds. Also all other MLD Pyramids now have updated larger peak vents. The DuoMid XL, as the SuperMid, has additional guyout points on the main ridgelines for really rough weather. There is also a larger SuperMid Mondo for larger groups because our new stronger silnylon make larger Mids possible. All Mids will also have a snow skirt custom option.

If you like cuben (or whatever Dyneema fancies calling it nowadays) the MLD .75 Cuben Fiber/ Dyneema Composite Fabric shelters now have a color option. The standard light green and the new lower cost .75 white option, with a few shelters also having an even lighter .5 cuben fiber fabric option.

Finally, production changes at MLD means they will offer a much shorter wait times versus previous years! So if you want a FKT bivy for that next trip - give Ron a call!

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Hyperlite Mountain Gear has updated their brand & website. I know there’s some nice new gear in the works, but for now they keep their cards close to the chest!

As Tucas

As Tucas from Spain want you to know that their long awaited ultralight synthetic top, the Sestrals, is almost ready. It is a streamlined design paired with their first-class schoeller-ftc fabric and a toasty Climashield APEX insulation to keep you cozy while outdoors. The top will be available in several styles: jacket, pullover and vest, all of them hooded or hoodless.

After years of working with synthetics As Tucas now also offers down! Their Foratata down quilt is after an extensive field testing period almost ready. Their proven quilt design now comes with 900 cuin pure white goose down to offer unsurpassed warmth and comfort in an ultralight format. Available as a quilt, blanket and in poncho styles. Register to get notified as soon as they are ready!

Also new in 2016 are improved designs and a Women’s fit. Most of thier product collections will be revamped in Spring with improved designs and Women’s fit, including their merino wool and insulated garment collections. And because As Tucas likes MYOG, they will make available some of the finest materials currently available, including fabrics and insulation for you to buy and sew your own garments!

Tarptent

Tarptent now offers a two-person version of the ProTrail, the MoTrail, which offers 44% more floor space and noticeably more headroom for you to sit in. It is fully rectangular and the floor fits two wide pads and sleeps two in comfort, even allowing for sleeping with head at the low end. And the Scarp 1 gets a much larger interior and a stiffer 9 mm pole.

Hanchor

HANCHOR is planning to release 3 backpacks with their Two-track suspension system, a minimalist small backpack, and all new built-in chalk sock chalk bag and chalk bucket.

The Two Track Suspension in a Nutshell: The Shoulder straps connect all the way to the back creating a ventilated back panel and providing basic support for a frame less mode in a weight saving way. Two vertical and one lateral aluminum stay can be inserted to stay in the same piece of back panel and add the stability of the suspension system in a weight saving way.

New is the Xeno Ultralight open basket backpack. Think ULA Epic gone lightweight. It is 741 g with the removable hipbelt and sternum strap, the vertical aluminum and lateral aluminum stays add 114 g and 31 g respecively. It is made from TPU laminated Cordura 420d, Cordura 100d and Xpac vx21, has 50 l volume and the Two-Track ventilated suspension system. 2 long daisy chains and two gear loops on the hip belt let you strap on kit, and it is compatible with a dry bag up to 50 l so you can separate your kit. A durable mesh fabric at bottom drains water, which makes the Xeno well-suited for for river climbing, canyoneering, and wet weather condition climbing or backpacking.

The Flint is a simple-designed ultralight climbing backpack with 42 l Volume and is made from Xpac vx21 and Cordura 100d. Again the Two-Track ventilated suspension system is along, which makes this pack 866 g light with the removable hipbelt and sternum strap. And again the vertical aluminum and lateral aluminum stays add 114 g and 31 g respecively, with two long daisy chains, two gear loops on the hip belt and two axe loops to store equipment. The roll-top closure and compression straps help to compress the volume, and the bottom seam binding make this pack easily stand on the ground.

Trail Designs

Trail Designs introduced their Caldera Sidewinder Solo last autumn, a budget friendly version of their popular Ti-Tri Sidewinder which has everything you need bundled together including the pot! It includes the patented Caldera Cone, KMart/ Stanco 1.1 liter Grease pot with a formed cone ridge, the 12-10 stove with integrated primer pan, a fuel bottle kit with measuring cup, a Tyvek sleeve to protect your pot, lightweight pot gripper, and a nylon stuff sack to hold it all - all for just $55!

Black Rock Gear

Black Rock Gear hopes to get the first run of Synthetic fill beanies and foldback mitts out soon. Hats and mitts that looks similar to the Black Hat and Black foldback mitts should pop up in their shop during March, so keep an eye out for it if you need something toasty that is not down.

Warbonnet Outdoors

Warbonnet Outdoors has a few cool pieces of kit in the making that they hope to have out later this year: A full-length underquilt for the Blackbird and Blackbird XLC models, a lightweight packable rain jacket made from their tarp fabric and their own custom camo pattern option for all their fabrics!

Enlightened Equipment

Enlightened Equipment is in the process of moving to a huge new facility, and once that is done they will have a full time product development team to dream up new ways to sleep toasty warm.

Additionally they recently added 950fp down as an option for all down quilt options. As you know, that is a great choice for those who need the smallest possible pack size (bikepackers love the compressibility!) and lowest weight, and they are also offering DownTek™ water repellent down as an additional protection against moisture.

Recently launched is the Convert. The quilt sizes up the award-winning Revelation, adds a full-length draft-blocked zipper and is sized up to allow a very spacious sleeping bag/ quilt hybrid that is very comfortable, especially for side and stomach sleepers. The drawcord footbox makes adapting to warmer weather quick and simple, and if it’s warmer still, just unzip it all the way and use it as a flat blanket.

Katabatic Gear

Katabatic Gear added a new line of sleeping bags which they are very excited about. Their customers demanded a blanket-style quilt and so they delivered: The Flex Series, which is available in 40°, 30°, 22°, and 15° options, as well as five different sizes. The Flex quilts are designed with the award-winning features you have come to expect from them, like the Katabatic attachment system, a down filled collar and draft blocking foot box closure which guards from the cold. But when you need some ventilation, the zippered foot box allows you to completely open the quilt up to a blanket, which makes for a truly flexible sleep system.

Seek Outside

Seek Outside has updated the Divide backpack and introduced The Revolution backpack, which is not UL, but for what it can do and the fact it is full featured it is still pretty light.

In the Tent world they have a new Tent - the Redliff - coming out, which is essentially a larger Cimarron, and there also we will be some lighter weight tarps for 1 - 2 people and some updates to the inners.

Packrafting Store

The Packrafting Store remains dedicated to the concept of amphibious travel and in 2016 you will see further diversification and the new accessories from them and Anfibio.

First off is their Anfibio Ultimate in a Multi version, the lightest collapsible canoeing paddle around at ~470 g.

If you look for an affordable paddle, take a look at the new Anfibio Basic 4p which proofs that the entry to Packrafting does not need to be expensive!

As ultralight backpackers we know that small items make the difference. The Packrafting Store offers a variety of alternative grab loops, that allow tailoring your packraft.

And if you follow packrafters on Twitter you probably have seen that packrafting goes fishing. The Packrafting Store now carry packraft specific fishing accessories, starting off with a Floating Fishing Net and a Rod holder.

Most interesting will be the new boats - from Ultralight to Whitewater - as well as new colors (Adventure X2 in Luminous red!) that will be available soon. You can find all that in their New section, and check out their 4th anniversary specials!

Last but not least, we support Hendrik’s #NoGearYear initiative and hold our rental program ready :) Don’t forget we carry most replacement part for all types of packrafts as well as repair supplies and workshop service to maintain your existing gear.

Finally, if you want to go packraft in Africa - take a look at their new destinations page!

Elemental Horizons

Elemental Horizons has some pretty exciting stuff in store for 2016. They are planning the launch of several new products, including a roll top version of the popular Aduro SL pack and an all new day pack in the 20 - 25 l range. These new packs will be available late spring or summer 2016. In the past fall they launched a new shoulder strap water bottle holder. The shoulder strap bottle holder is the perfect size to hold most 20 oz. standard drink bottles, has a draw string closure and has a built in stash pocket on the front to hold small items like chap stick, bug spray or a smartphone. The bottle holder mounts easily to just about any pack shoulder strap and sells for $18.

Tread Lite Gear

Tread Lite Gear is a new cottage out of the United Kingdom, and a search for Tread Lite Gear on ebay should get you to their items. Cuben stuff sacks and wallets, MYOG fabrics and materials and other ultralight gear you can find there, so have a look.

YAMA Mountain Gear

YAMA Mountain Gear has relocated into a larger space in the Appalachian Trail Town of Waynesboro, Virginia. The are now next to the backpackers’ camp where AT hikers stay while they resupply in town! YAMA has also welcomed PCT thru-hiker Greg Arpante to their team to assist with design and fabrication. Gen and Greg are working hard to introduce a new line of backpacks and fastpacking packs, a 1-person version of the Swiftline shelter, and more. Soon they also hope to launch the “YAMA Labs” as a way to foster product development; which is partly a behind the scenes look at product development and partly a demo and testing opportunity. Cool!

GooseFeet Gear

GooseFeet Gear has finally officially released their custom down pants! These down pants are custom sized for every customer and use the lightest 10d fabrics available. You can also add such options as box baffling and side zippers to get exactly what you are looking for, and if there are any additional options that you would want, Ben can usually accommodate those as well!

Six Moon Designs

Six Moon Designs has a revamped pack line up which has gone online a few months ago. With these packs they’ve done a lot of fine tuning based upon user feedback and so far all the changes have been well received. SMD has also added a new pack to the lineup, the Flex, which provides a lot of flexibility for those carrying odd loads. Ron want you to know that there won’t be big changes in the shelters for the coming year.

QiWiz.net

QiWiz UL Gear is best known for their titanium cathole trowels, but also make and sell titanium wood burning stoves, ultralight buck saws, titanium spatulas, and other ultralight cooking options.

Rob’s biggest news for 2016 is that he is no longer a one-person operation. After the last 4 years of rapid growth, demand for the Big Dig and other sizes of titanium cathole trowels has gotten to the point that he has hired a member of his backpacking club to help me with production.

A nice design improvement for the FireFly ultralight titanium wood burning stoves has recently been introduced. They have added a vertical crease in the top half of each stove side for a 3-D shape that adds greater strength with no weight penalty. Rob is really happy that he has even been able to do this with the FlexPort side that allows the user to feed longer sticks into the firebox. The pictures below show the new creased sides next to the previous design that was flat.

Locus Gear

Locus Gear will possibly release a modified version of their popular Khufu CTF3 called Khufu CTF3-B this spring or early summer. As Jotaro is still testing it no exact release date has been decided yet. The shape itself is almost the same as the normal version of the Khufu CTF3, but as you can notice ,there is a letter “B” at the end of the name - which stands for advanced bonding technique so that there is no seam line at the main structure except around the zipper. Even the seam line around the zipper is taped over by the same bonding technique as an additional reinforcement. This all means you don’t have to apply seam sealing. Additionally there is a modified air vent and more new innovations in this shelter, so keep an eye out for it!

Secondly, Locus Gear will release a new foam sleeping mat called “Onda” in the spring. The mat has a patented unique waved foam surface combined with a thin flat foam base. The weight is about 250 g in the size of 180 cm x 50 cm x 1 cm!

ZPacks

ZPacks offers a freestanding modification to their Duplex tent for a while, the Duplex Flex Tent. Some “beta” customers have taken it outside already and have provided feedback thus far. Additionally, ZPAcks has moved to a larger building (again) in November and have been hiring a bunch of seamsters to help them meet demand this spring!

KS ultralight gear

KS ultralight gear has a new Saddle Pack and Waist Pack. These specialized pieces of kit probably are interesting to bikepackers and trailrunners who want a customizable option.

More

Cottage Manufacturers are busy people - some are just now out hiking, other’s are finishing up your gear. That’s why not every cottage is on this list. It’s a living document, though, and likely will be updated a couple of times during the next few weeks while more companies are added. Either check back at the end of the week or follow along on Facebook and Twitter where I will announce updates. And to read this article in German, head over to hrXXLight!

And if you liked this article, buy me a cup of coffee or two =)

from Hiking in Finland http://ift.tt/1oMiDZh

Storytelling Club @ SAS

Date: Thursday, March 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Location: PTA Office Topic: Using Visuals in Storytelling to Engage Your Audience Kate Brundage will be sharing her experience about using visuals in storytelling to engage your audience.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1oE4axT

Legally Blonde Tickets Now Available

Hold onto your seats, because this musical is so much fun it should be "illegal"! Performances will take place in the drama theater. Tickets are free but required and are available for the entire family in the middle school office.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/21vSnQP

Caitlen Paige Monnone '10

My journey from Singapore American School 2010 to Oregon State University 2012-2016 including entering the Miss Oregon Pageant Nov 2015. If you had known me in 2010 at SAS you would not envisage me going to college or even entering a beauty pageant, however since that time I have gained in self-confidence over the years and that has mainly been due to my time at SAS which became a developing and learning experience that will never be equaled.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1n0GuCG

Vaginal Swabs: Benefits for C-Section Babies

Game Change: Macro Implications of the Microbiome

We are almost a decade and a half into a new paradigm. One that decenters the gene-centric model of our flesh-robot existence. We are no longer just discrete individual entities trying to hack out a living until we die and disintegrate into nothingness. We can no longer justify means that don’t support a collective end. All of medicine, every specialty, must be revisited to account for the role of the microbiome as the master control of human health.

Science is leading us back to our common wisdom. It is telling us that we are not human in the ways we thought we were. That germs are our very constitution. That we are a part of a cocreated fabric on this planet, rather than at the top of a food chain.

We are learning about the evolutionary imperative implied by vaginal birth, in-arms infancy, and breastfeeding. And the consequences of departure from this Continuum, range from illness to existential pain.

Consequences of Neglect

As Francis Weller discusses, we are suffering a collective sorrow for the absence of primary satisfactions.

“The primary satisfactions are the elemental constituents of a healthy psychic and physical life. These included matters such as: adequate and available touch; comforting in times of grief and pain; abundant play; the sharing of food eaten slowly; dark, starlit nights; the pleasures of friendship and laughter…In these matters, traditional earth-based cultures were highly attentive to the ways they provided their people what it was that the soul required to feel at home, at ease, and known. Through meeting the basic needs of the soul, these cultures survived, thrived and endured. This was a level of contentment that is seldom known in our modern civilization…These practices address how we can assure an adequate measure of belonging in one another and how to maintain an intimacy with our inner and outer worlds.

They are the undeniable and irrefutable needs of the psyche that were established over the long journey of our species and are imprinted in our beings as expectations awaiting fulfillment.”

He posits that when we forgo these primary satisfactions, we are left with the endless hunger of secondary satisfaction pursuit. For power, for highs, for money.

Connecting to our inner and outer worlds, at this point, requires an acknowledgement of our fundamental connectedness to nature. Honoring the microbiome – the organisms that live in and among us stretching, enriching, and defining our human capabilities. Our ability to digest, to synthesize, to detox, and to mentate.

The Origins of the Microbiome

Science has begun to quantify the risks of disregard for the microbiome, particularly in the perinatal period. We tempt these risks through the use of antenatal and intrapartum antibiotics, through surgical birth, through formula feeding.

They include disturbance of immune and stress hormone profiles and associated origins of adult diseases – obesity, diabetes, allergy, autoimmunity, and psychiatric pathology.

With extensive exploration of how and why homebirth is the only logical extension of our expanding knowledge, it seems almost an act of resistance to require further data to support the sensibility of homebirth. But I will also offer that we need to zoom out and take in the grander landscape. We need to simply feel inside for that pull of the Continuum. This exercise involves letting go of your fears. Sitting calm and detached from outcomes, and just looking for a sense of what might feel right if you just trusted it.

C-Section: What to Do if It Happens to You

While I have grave concerns about hospital birth and accompanying risk for interventions, one of my primary concerns is around data that suggests babies born in the hospital develop guts seeding with opportunistic hospital-based bacteria and even non-maternal skin flora.

Is there anything that can be done if a hospital birth manifests?

According to Maria Dominguez-Bello et al in a recent ground-breaking study published in Nature Medicine, there may be a simple means of partially restoring the strains of Lactobacillus and Bacteroides noted to be present in the microbiome of the vaginally birthed baby.

Within two minutes of birth, 4 of the elective C-section babies were swabbed (mouth, face, skin) with a gauze vaginally incubated for one hour prior to birth. All 18 babies’ microbiomes were assessed 6 times in the first month of life. They found that the swabbed babies had a microbial profile more similar to the vaginal babies than the surgical.

Of course, the necessary caveat is imbedded as a misemployment of the precautionary principle:

“The researchers do not recommend that women try this swiping procedure just yet.”

Own Your Body

I’ll leave it up to you. We have trusted authorities – doctors, health organizations, government – with the integrity of our experience as women for too long. We have been told that our bodies are dangerous minefields of pain, suffering, and death. That we need the construct of intellectualized medicine to save us from the unpredictability of our natural processes. How long are you going to allow the captors to dictate the terms of your sentence while the prison door is open? The light is streaming in. I say: it’s your choice to walk out, anytime.

The post Vaginal Swabs: Benefits for C-Section Babies appeared first on Kelly Brogan MD.

from Kelly Brogan MD http://ift.tt/24sfk9G

Liver and Gallbladder Detoxification Talk

Liver and Gallbladder Detoxification Talk

 

A car mechanic disposes of old motor oil before putting in the new oil. He doesn't put new oil in while the old oil is still there. Have you ever wondered why we take medicine, foods, or supplements without taking out the toxins that make us sick in the first place? Why not unclog your liver and gallbladder before taking your medicine or supplements so they work better for you?

Learn how to do a simple DIY liver and gallbladder cleanse from the liver and gallbladder detox guru who has helped more than 2,000 people overcome about 50 common illnesses.

Please come for an interactive session in the PTA office on Friday, March 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Please RSVP by Wednesday, March 16 to confirm your attendance.

 

Speaker Background

Mark Chan from Ark Health Ministries, is a health educator who specializes in liver and gallbladder detox.

Mark has been very health conscious since he was 15. He became a full-fledged vegetarian when he was 23 in 1987. From the age of 32, he has attended several certification courses on natural remedies. Mark obtained a master degree in public health in 2011. 

His mission is to impart life skills on health, relationships, and financial education. He has given public lectures at tertiary institutions, schools, community clubs, and corporations since 1995. He is also qualified to present more than 10 health related topics; 7 Habits of Highly Healthy People, trigger point massage, cancer prevention, and vegetarian cooking demonstrations. His signature talk liver and gallbladder detox has attracted a large clientele base.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1Leh93L

International Fair Alternate Dress Day

To celebrate Saturday's International Fair, all students can wear their fair t-shirts tomorrow, February 26, instead of their regular uniform shirt. Students should still wear their SAS uniform bottoms. T-shirts can still be purchased at the PTA Office today until 2:30 p.m. and will also be on sale at the fair.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1oIJsxy

IASAS Softball Exchange BBQ

Mark you calendars for the IASAS softball exchange BBQ! The Booster Club will be grilling at the concession stand by the softball field on Friday, March 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday, March 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please bring cash!

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1oBYe8u

Guest Post: Do You Have to Feel Old and Fat?

The following post was written by my friend and colleague, Dr. Frank Lipman. A New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Lipman has written 4 books: Total Renewal – 7 Key Steps to Resilience Vitality and Long Term Health; Revive – End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again; The New Health Rules – Simple Changes to Achieve Whole-Body Wellness; and his latest book, 10 Reasons You Feel Old and Get Fat.

People often think of a physician as a person who brings you bad news: “Your blood pressure is up.” “You are very close to diabetes.” “I’m concerned about your heart.” I don’t enjoy telling my patients those things, but as a physician, it’s part of my job.

My favorite part of the job, though, is when I get to give people good news. And when I wrote my latest book, I had the pleasure of sharing some very good news indeed. Here it is in a nutshell:

You don’t have to feel old or get fat.

Whatever your age, you can enjoy vigor, vitality, and a lean, healthy weight.

In fact, the title says it all: 10 Reasons You Feel Old and Get Fat…and How YOU Can Stay Young, Slim, and Happy!

The premise of the book is simple—and empowering:

Give your body the foods, exercise, sleep, stress relief that it needs to achieve optimal function…

Protect your body from the toxins, bad food, and unhealthy activities that interfere with optimal function…

And you never have to feel old or get fat.

If you know how to support your body in the right ways, you can remain young, slim, and happy—for life.

What Really Happens as You Get Older?

We’ve all heard it, from friends, family, even our doctors: growing older is synonymous with getting fat, slow, forgetful, and sick. All too many of us have been led to believe that the years from age forty onward are nothing more than a slow, painful decline, marked by the following inevitable outcomes:

• You gain weight.
• You slow down.
• You have to live with mysterious aches and pains.
• You get sick more often.
• It takes you longer to “bounce back” from any physical or emotional challenge.
• You develop memory issues, “senior moments,” and brain fog.
• You lose interest in sex or maybe lose some of your ability to perform.
• You feel sadder, more depressed, and maybe also more anxious.

Yes, of course, these problems are common—and they are becoming increasingly so even for folks in their twenties and thirties. But as a physician, I can assure you with absolute certainty that they are not inevitable.

How can I say this with such confidence? Because the real obstacle for most of us isn’t age. It’s loss of function.

Your digestion, for example, is a crucial aspect of your health. Your stomach and intestines function together to break down your food into the basic nutrients that nourish your body, fuel your energy, and keep your cells in peak condition.

But when you eat the wrong foods—foods that challenge your gut, stress your immune system, and fail to provide the nutrients your body needs—gut function begins to diminish. This isn’t because you are getting older. It’s because your gut is struggling to cope with a lot of unhealthy foods and toxins that it was never designed to digest.

So in your twenties, your gut soldiers on, and you might not realize just how hard it’s working. Maybe you have some minor indigestion, but nothing you pay much attention to.

In your thirties, maybe you notice some occasional bloating, and constipation. Now you’re a bit more concerned, but you’re still able to ignore the problems, and you might not even report them to your doctor. If you do, your doctor is likely to brush them off, or maybe suggest some over-the-counter meds.

Then, when you hit your forties, your poor gut just can’t take it anymore. Now you’ve got major acid reflux, plus gas so painful that it wakes you up at night. You’ve got a problem, all right, but isn’t because “you’ve gotten older.” It’s because you subjected your gut to a lifetime of challenges—not just poor diet and environmental toxins, but also insufficient exercise, lack of sleep, and emotional stress with no relief.

Now, here’s the good news. As soon as you start eating the foods you need and reducing the challenges—eating toxin-free food, getting good sleep, practicing some stress relief such as yoga or meditation—your gut health begins to improve. The indigestion evaporates. The gas and bloating are gone. The acid reflux disappears. When you give your gut what it needs to achieve optimal function, you feel terrific at any age—and your vitality, your vigor, and your weight all show it.

You Don’t Have to Feel Old and Fat if You . . .

• Eat the foods your body needs
• Avoid the foods that stress your body
• Support your microbiome—the community of friendly bacteria that lives throughout your body, governing your digestion, your immune system, and your mental health
• Balance your hormones
• Give your body the movement it craves
• Find effective ways to cope with stress
• Get all the good, restorative sleep your body needs
• Minimize as far as possible the medications that can interfere with your body’s natural state of health
• Supplement your diet with crucial nutrients
• Reconnect to your sense of meaning, purpose, and community

Don’t Worry About Age—Focus on Function

I was very excited to write 10 Reasons You Feel Old and Get Fat, because so many people ask me, “What should I do to be healthy?” Making healthy choices isn’t all that difficult when you’ve got the right information—but of course, most people don’t have that information.

There are so many myths floating around—“All fat is bad for you.” “Artificial sweeteners are a good way to lose weight.” “Soy is a health food.” “The best solution for a symptom is to medicate it.” “Stress is mainly a psychological issue, not a physical one.” The list goes on and on.

I wrote 10 Reasons to break through those myths and to provide a basic approach to health that you can easily follow. You don’t have to be a gourmet cook (I’m certainly not!). You don’t have to spend hours at the gym (I certainly don’t!). You don’t have to be an enlightened yogi or a naturally calm person who easily avoids stress (that doesn’t describe me, either). All you have to do is understand which foods and activities will support your body…and which will undermine your body. My goal for 10 Reasons was to provide you with everything you needed to know so that you could achieve those goals.

So yes, if you undermine your body’s function, you will almost certainly feel “old and fat before your time.” But if you support your body’s function, you can remain young, slim, and happy for life. It’s the best news I could possibly bring you.

The post Guest Post: Do You Have to Feel Old and Fat? appeared first on Kelly Brogan MD.

from Kelly Brogan MD http://ift.tt/1Ov6iwZ

Ski-touring South-Tyrol and Salzburger Lungau

“Fear… the right and necessary counterweights to that courage which urges men skyward, and protects them from self-destruction.” - Heinrich Harrer

I have mentioned before that I love the Dolomites and so it was a great pleasure to return in Winter to Kronplatz in South Tyrol and go ski-touring. My brother and me spent three beautiful days in the Gsieser Valley, then packed up our gear and continued across the border to Austria and the beautiful Salzburger Lungau region where we spent another three days of ski-touring. As I’m right now wrapping up some other work projects and packing for a trip to Switzerland I leave you with some impressions from last week to wet your appetite for the coming trip report from these two trips!

South Tyrol, Val Casies

Night time view from the balcony.

Bluebird skinning up to the Hoher Mann.

Matthias answering my request for a powder shower.

Walking in.

Rest-day activity: Visit to the MMM Corones.

Austria, Salzburger Lungau

The snow in Austria, down in the valley, was “interesting” for starters.

Wind-blown, hard snow pack made for easy skinning.

And we made it!

The next day: Bluebird weather and half a meter of powder.

Yeps, that’s where we just where - on top of the Großer Königstuhl.

More coming in March! Also keep an eye on the Gsieser Valley Album and Salzburger Lungau Album on Flickr or just follow along on Instagram.

Thanks to Kronplatz, Lungau and Maro and Partner for making this trip possible.

from Hiking in Finland http://ift.tt/1LbSNYv

International Fair Raffle

Over 30 gift baskets have been assembled and will be on display at International Fair this Saturday, February 27 in the Riady Center. Each coupon costs $1 and will be on sale at International Fair. You can put as many tickets in as many baskets as you want! The more coupons you put into a basket, the better chances you have of winning.

from Singapore American School http://ift.tt/1PYBzN8

Real Estate Negotiation Techniques 101 That’ll Save You Thousands

 

 

Are you finding yourself it hard to buy a place in this aggressive real estate market?

Are you constantly being outbid in bidding wars and tired of it?

Don’t you wish you had some inside secrets on how to negotiate like a boss?

 

In this hot market, you’re going to be engaging in wild negotiations.  Here are some basic tips that can help you when buying or selling real estate.

 

Look at the Home like a Home Inspector:

When you’re buying a property, look closely at the features of the property.  See if you can pinpoint areas that need some touch ups and repairs.  Are there chips on the floor?  How about dents, scratches and marks on the wall?  Is the place so outdated that it needs a new coat of paint? 

Find out the cost to mitigate these small problems and use that to bring the price down.

How about the age of the roof, hot water tank and the furnace?  Do these need replacing soon?  Is the flooring dirty or outdated as well?  Factor those costs in as well.

 

BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement):

When you go into a negotiation, always have a BATNA.  

The post Real Estate Negotiation Techniques 101 That’ll Save You Thousands appeared first on Vancouver's #1 Family Real Estate Homes, Houses, And Condos For Sale | Gary Wong Realty.

from Vancouver's #1 Family Real Estate Homes, Houses, And Condos For Sale | Gary Wong Realty http://ift.tt/1TETLPo

3 Ways to Remove Window Dirt

Do you want to learn how to clean windows and get the same results as the professionals? Read below to learn 3 helpful ways on how to remove window dirt.

Dust
Dirty, dusty windows are a breeding ground for allergy causing dust mites. Dust is particularly prone to building up on flat surfaces such as the windowsill. Keep the windows allergy-free by regularly damp-dusting with a 5-percent bleach solution. The will rid the area of mites and mold spores, and the damp cloth will prevent the dust from flying into the air and irritating you. For extra protection, wear a dust mask when cleaning windows. Clean blinds, shutters and shades weekly with a vacuum that features a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, and damp clean them once every three to six months. A nearly allergen-free window covering option is privacy window film. Apply this directly to the window, which gives it a frosted look. It also reduces glare and UV rays. If you must hang curtains, choose lightweight fabric that is washable. Washing the curtains in hot water every three months will keep them from building up dust mites. It can be a lot of effort, but try these allergy fighting tactics with your windows, and with luck, you can prevent many allergens from getting inside and making your miserable. Avoiding the sneezing and sniffles is definitely worth the effort. Source: BedBathAndBeyond

Remove and Prevent Mold
Begin the process of removing mold on windows by identifying every point where it exists. Examine the glass and frames of the windows thoroughly to make sure that you know where every instance of mold occurs. This makes it easier to remove it all at the same time. Do not overlook the inner surface of the window frames; open the windows and check inside thoroughly.
If, when you come to clean the mold on windows, the panes and frames are dry, begin by putting on a respiratory mask and using a vacuum cleaner to remove any loose spores. Undertake this process when the window is open to allow the particles of mold an escape route. Slowly and steadily run the nozzle of the hose over the glass and the frames, making sure you cover every section. Once complete, clean the vacuum nozzle with a cloth dampened with vinegar.
Avoid using a vacuum if the windows are wet. Instead, put on a pair of protective gloves and use a cloth that has been dampened with tepid water to wipe the panes and frames of the windows. At this stage, your action should only be to remove the excess mold on windows. Do not rub too hard so you can avoid forcing mold spores into the wood of the window frame, and regularly rinse the cloth in clean water.
Once the excess mold has been removed, you will be in a better position to determine the full extent of the problem. Where the problem is relatively minor, spray some white vinegar onto the windows and leave it for a few minutes as you gather some baking soda onto a clean cloth. This can then be used to rub away the mold since the baking soda will act as an abrasive and the vinegar will kill the spores. If the problem is more extensive, dilute some fungicide in a bucket of water according to the instructions and use this to clean the glass and frames of the windows.
After removing the mold, dry the surface thoroughly with a cloth and inspect it again to ensure that there are no final traces of mold. If so, repeat the cleaning process again.
Prevent mold from returning by keeping the windows condensation-free. This can be achieved by wiping condensation away with a dry cloth. Whenever possible, keep the nearby area ventilated so that air can circulate and prevent the window space from becoming damp. Source: DoItYourself

Avoid Streaks
Most of us don’t consider what’s in the water we use to clean. In truth, it usually doesn’t matter. But with glass, you see absolutely everything, so water content can make a difference — especially if you have hard water.
If you’re diluting your glass cleaner, consider using distilled water. It doesn’t have all the minerals in it that can be present in the water from your tap, so it won’t leave behind any streaky deposits on your bathroom mirror.
Vinegar is one of those all-purpose ingredients that’s tough to live without. It’s as great on a salad as it in on your mirror, and it costs practically nothing.
Whether you’re out of your usual glass cleaner or you’re just looking for a cheaper option, vinegar can do wonders for your windows and mirrors. A vinegar-water solution (50/50) works great — just spray or wipe it on like you would any other cleaner.
The smell will stick around for a bit, so if you gag at the scent of vinegar, you might save this streak-free cleaner for outdoor glass. You know that bucket of glass-cleaning supplies you carry through the house when it’s window day? There should not be a roll of paper towels in it. Paper towels leave not only streaks, but linty ones. Instead, go for a microfiber cloth, a squeegee, or, best yet, a handful of newspaper. Your morning read does an amazing job on glass. If you go with the newspaper, be sure to wear gloves. That ink gets everywhere.
Even if you do exactly the right things, you can still end up with a streak or three. In that case, the simplest solution is to finish the job with a quick buff. A chamois or a microfiber cloth is best, although a regular rag will do. Keep it dry, and just buff over the glass when you finish cleaning it. You’ll find those streaks just disappear.
As always, keeping up with the job makes it a whole lot easier. The less dirt and grime your windows accumulate, the less time you’ll spend cleaning them — a quick vinegar spritz, newspaper swipe and you’re on your way. Source: Home

Anything worthwhile takes patience and practice to learn. If you want to get more information about window cleaning tips, please contact us.

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604 ) 559-1988

The post 3 Ways to Remove Window Dirt appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.

from Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters http://ift.tt/1VDouu8

5 Inexpensive Ways to Make Your Bathroom Luxurious

When planning a new bathroom or updating your existing bathroom the first thing to consider is the style you want to achieve.

Read below to learn 5 inexpensive ways to make your bathroom luxurious:

Natural Accents
Natural stone counter – A soapstone top, with its river rock color and matte finish, has a warmer look than polished granite. Cut one to your specs using woodworking tools.. Source: ThisOldHouse

Two Shower Curtains For a Grander Tub
Shower curtain panels make for a far more luxurious bath experience. For a tiny bathroom, just cut the curtain in half and hem the edges. Easy peasy. Source: Buzzfeed

Arrange Artfully
Consider your counter: Are your beauty and hygiene supplies just strewn about randomly? If so, adding a few small trays can mean the difference between a mess and an artful arrangement. And don’t write off apothecary jars just because they’re a cliche — they’re a beautiful way to display the small but necessary items that often come in gaudy packaging (cotton balls, q-tips). Source: ElleDecor

Fresh Flowers and Greenery
This trick may sound too easy, but you’ll be amazed at how much a little plant life can go a long way in making your bathroom much prettier and vibrant. Source: RedbookMag

Mirror Power
A large mirror has so much power. It cuts down on tile costs by filling much of a wall (while reflecting the material you do invest in) and can virtually double the size of the room, making it feel like a vast personal oasis even if the room is a more modest size. Consider taking a mirror wall to wall. Source: Houzz

If you’d like more information on how to make your bathroom look luxurious in an inexpensive way, please contact us.

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 5 Inexpensive Ways to Make Your Bathroom Luxurious appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

from Perfect Bath Canada http://ift.tt/21ezCoe

4 Hair Removal Options

Are you confused about how to remove unwanted body hair? Read below to find 4 hair removal options you may … Continue reading →

from signaturemobilespa http://ift.tt/1XLIhc8

Hazelnut, Pecan & Chocolate Babka Rolls

Last summer when I was in New York I was on a quest with my friend, Rhiannon.

It was a noble quest: to eat as MUCH as possible. My lovely friend Katherine helped out on one of the many ‘eat-days’, touring us around the city. We had Dough doughnuts, Babka from Arcade Bakery, creme brûlée chocolates from Kee’s Chocolates and ice cream from Morgenstern’s.

One of the last stops was at Breads bakery – I’d heard many many good things about their chocolate babka so, after some encouragement (‘You can get a student discount here!'<– a guy in the store guarding a stack of babkas) I bought a WHOLE CHOCOLATE BABKA.

Do you want to guess what happened next? Or should I just come out and say it.

I ate the WHoLe BabKA IN 3 DAYS. I’m not kidding. I mean, Rhiannon had like 1 slice of it. I ate the rest. Me. All me.

When I got home I started craving it like a mad woman. I made a cardamom-cinnamon-brown-butter one to quell my hunger. But again, the need for yeasty, chocolate bread struck. I waited until the weekend and, roughly following Ottolenghi’s recipe for ‘Krantz cake’ I baked up some lil babka buns. I ate TWO for breakfast and it. was. great.

Hazelnut, Pecan & Chocolate Babka Rolls

 

Save Print

Serves: 6 big buns!

Ingredients

Dough:

• 80g (5½ tbsp) unsalted butter
• 45ml (3 tbsp) milk (I used oat milk)
• ½ tsp salt
• 50g (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, separated
• 250g (2 cups) plain flour (plus more for dusting)
• 1 tsp active dried yeast

Filling:

• 50g (~3 tbsp) chocolate-hazelnut spread
• 40g (~3 tbsp) unsalted butter
• 50g (1.75 oz) dark chocolate
• pinch of salt
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 50g pecans, finely chopped

Instructions

1. Make the dough: In a small pot melt the butter. Take off the heat and stir in the milk, salt and sugar. Add 1 egg + 1 egg yolk (save the white in the fridge for glazing the buns) and stir together.
2. In a large bowl mix the flour and yeast - make a well in the centre of it. Pour in the butter mixture and stir together to make a soft dough.
3. Tip out onto a floured work surface and knead gently for about 6 minutes, dusting with flour as needed, until the dough is smooth and less sticky. Oil the large bowl you used and place the dough into it. Cover with clingfilm and leave in a warm place to rise for 1½ hours.
4. Now make the filling: melt together all the filling ingredients (except the pecans) over a low heat in a small saucepan, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Remove the mixture from the heat and set aside at room temperature to cool as the dough continues to rise.
5. Once the dough is risen tip it out onto a floured surface. Dust it with more flour and gently roll it out into a roughly 25 x 35 cm rectangle.
6. Transfer the rectangle of dough to a floured cookie tray. Cover the entire surface with a thick layer of the chocolate mixture (it should be pourable but not super runny - if too thick, gently warm it up a bit. If too thin, put it in the fridge to cool for a bit) and sprinkle with the chopped pecans. Place the tray into the fridge for 10 minutes so that the filling can firm up.
7. Remove the tray from the fridge and fold the dough into thirds like a business letter so you end up with a roughly 25 x 10 cm rectangle. Cut the dough into six (25 cm long) strips. Twist each strip along its length and then coil it up (see .gifs at above recipe)(this doesn't need to be precise!).Line the baking tray with baking paper and place the buns onto it. Cover loosely with oiled cling film and leave in a warm place to prove for an hour.
8. Preheat the oven to 180 C. Remove the cling film from the buns. Take the egg white which was leftover from making the dough and whisk 1 tbsp of water into it with a fork - use this to glaze the buns with a pastry brush.
9. Bake the buns for 17-20 minutes, until dark golden-brown.
10. Eat warm or leave to cool on the tray before storing in an airtight container at room temp.

Notes

- Adapted from Ottolenghi

3.5.3208

 

 

The post Hazelnut, Pecan & Chocolate Babka Rolls appeared first on Izy Hossack - Top With Cinnamon.

from Izy Hossack – Top With Cinnamon http://ift.tt/24nLumX